Method and apparatus for determining oxygen storage capacity time of a catalytic converter

ABSTRACT

An on-board catalyst diagnostic for monitoring the conversion efficiencies of a catalytic converter by measuring the oxygen storage capacity (OSC) of the converter. The measurement of the OSC indicates the degree of health of the converter. Under the same engine running conditions, the greater the OSC measurement, the healthier the converter. A modeled OSC is compared to the real OSC to determine a normalized OSC. The normalized OSC is compared to a predetermined threshold value in order to determine the health of the converter. The modeled OSC takes into consideration variables which will affect the value of the OSC.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates generally to an onboard system for monitoring vehicular emissions and more particularly to a diagnostic system for monitoring such emissions.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Government regulations require vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines to have emission monitoring systems conventionally known as OBD (On-board Diagnostic Systems) to advise the operator of the vehicle when the gaseous pollutants or emissions produced by such vehicles exceed government regulatory standards. Government regulatory standards set emission threshold levels which the vehicle cannot exceed when operated pursuant to a specified driving cycle such as that set forth in a FTP (Federal Test Procedure). The FTP requires the vehicle be operated at various acceleration/deceleration modes as well as at steady state or constant velocity at various specified speeds.

[0003] One of the principal components of the vehicle's emission system is the catalytic converter, typically a TWC (Three Way Catalyst—NO_(x), hydrocarbons and oxides, i.e., CO). TWCs store oxygen when the engine operates lean and release stored oxygen when the engine operates rich to combust gaseous pollutants such as hydrocarbons or carbon monoxide. As the catalyst ages, its ability to store oxygen diminishes and thus the efficiency of the catalytic converter decreases.

[0004] In order to determine the efficiency of the catalytic converter, systems monitor the ability of TWCs to store oxygen to determine failure of the catalyst. Typically an EGO (exhaust gas oxygen sensor) is placed upstream of the TWC and an oxygen sensor is placed either within or downstream of the TWC to sense the oxygen content in the exhaust gas. The signals are adjusted for the time it takes the exhaust gas to travel from the precatalytic converter sensor to the postcatalytic converter oxygen sensor. The adjusted signals are then compared to ascertain the storage capacity of the TWC when the engine is in a lean or stoichiometric mode.

[0005] The principal disadvantage of this method is simply that the oxygen storage capacity of the TWC has been demonstrated to poorly correlate with hydrocarbon conversion efficiencies. See J. S. Hepburn and H. S. Gandhi “The Relationship Between Catalyst Hydrocarbon Conversion Efficiency and Oxygen Storage Capacity”, SAE paper 920831, 1992 and G. B. Fischer, J. R. Theis, M. V. Casarella and S. T. Mahan “The Roll of Ceria in Automotive Exhaust Catalysis and OBD-II Catalyst Monitoring”, SAE paper 931034, 1993. Another significant disadvantage of current monitoring systems is that for such methods to be applied to low emission vehicles and ultra-low emission vehicles, it will be necessary to monitor increasingly smaller portions of the TWC leading to less reliable correlations to total TWC performance. Finally, any system which attempts to evaluate the efficiency of the catalytic converter by ascertaining the gas composition of an exhaust stream before and after the TWC is inherently flawed because i) the speed of the gas has to be precisely determined even though the gas stream passes through a tortuous path within the converter conducive to producing uneven flow for various gas stream slips and ii) the gaseous reactions within the TWC are fundamentally kinetic in nature and vary in a complex manner depending on the speed and particular composition of the exhaust gas at any given instant.

[0006] Vehicles are equipped with engine microprocessors or ECMs (engine control modules) that are sophisticated, high powered devices capable of processing input from any number of sensors depicting operating conditions of the vehicle and rapidly issuing engine control signals in response thereto. An ECM can be programmed to perform on-board monitoring of the emissions system. U.S. Pat. No. 5,490,064 to Minowa illustrates such a control unit which includes in its functions an on-board self diagnostic emissions monitoring process using conventional pre and postcatalytic O.sub.2 sensors, digital filtering and exhaust gas speed to correlate the sensor readings to one another to determine failure of the catalytic converter. U.S. Pat. No. 5,431,011 to Casarella et al. likewise illustrates precatalytic and postcatalytic converter O.sub.2 sensors whose signals are processed by the CPU in the ECM along with other vehicle operational signals. In Casarella, a two-stage analyzing technique is utilized. Filtered signals are collected in a first stage and analyzed. If the first stage analysis indicates a failure, then a more thorough or rigorous second stage scrutiny of a number of signals which can affect performance of the catalytic converter is conducted before indicating failure of the converter. Despite the sophistication employed in the computer program and the ECM, the aforementioned system is inherently flawed because of the defects in the sampling system discussed above.

[0007] Catalysts are commonly used as part of exhaust systems to treat motor vehicle exhaust in order to minimize air pollution. The reduction of pollution from motor vehicles is mandated by the Environmental Protection Agency through the Environmental Protection Act. As part of the process to assure compliance, it is common for various motor vehicle regulatory bodies to mandate tailpipe testing of automobiles on a regular basis. In order to avoid the expense of such emissions, inspection and to assure that automobiles on the road are complying with the environmental laws and regulations, there are efforts to develop a system which can sense when the exhaust system is not compliant and signal the vehicle operator accordingly.

[0008] It is the goal to monitor the exhaust gas of a motor vehicle during normal operation to determine whether the catalytic converter is performing as required. The apparatus and method to accomplish this is commonly referred to as onboard diagnostics (OBD). The strategy which is contemplated is that the performance of the catalyst is determined based on sensing the exhaust gases to determine whether the catalyst is performing as specified and required. Different sensing means have been proposed but all are required to signal the motor vehicle operator if the catalyst is failing to operate as required.

[0009] Sensors useful to measure various components in gaseous exhaust streams such as motor vehicle exhaust streams are known. Useful sensors include oxygen sensors and NOx sensor assemblies. Such oxygen sensors include on/off sensors known as heated exhaust gas oxygen sensors (HEGO) a nd universal exhaust gas oxygen sensors (UEGO) which is an on/off sensor plus a linear signal which is a function of the air to fuel ratio. Various oxygen sensors have been used and are disclosed in the art including the above referenced sensors.

[0010] Other approaches to sense whether the catalyst is performing include the use of dual oxygen sensors. In accordance with this method, one oxygen sensor is located upstream of the catalyst and the other downstream of the catalyst. The signals from the upstream and downstream sensors are compared and correlated to the emissions, typically hydrocarbon emissions, to determine whether the catalyst is functioning to reduce hydrocarbon emissions to achieve compliance with the regulations. If the amount of emissions is calculated to exceed a specific amount, a signal can be sent to the motor vehicle console to alert the operator that the system to treat exhaust has failed and repair is required.

[0011] The use of a dual oxygen sensor system has been reported in SAE Technical Paper Series No. 900062, Clemmens, et al., “Detection of Catalyst Performance Loss Using On-Board Diagnostics”, presented at the International Congress and Exposition, Detroit, Mich., Feb. 26-Mar. 2, 1990. This paper reviews the history of such systems which are commonly referred to as On-Board Diagnostic Systems (OBD). This early study was indicated to be a proof of concept testing study to identify serious losses in catalyst efficiency with a dual oxygen sensor method. In accordance with this disclosure, testing was conducted at steady state conditions. The results showed that this approach resulted in measurable differences in the pre- and post-oxygen sensor signals between catalyst with good and poor conversion efficiencies.

[0012] SAE Technical Paper Series No. 910561, Koupal, et al., “Detection of Catalyst Failure On-Vehicle Using the Dual Oxygen Sensor Method” was presented at the International Congress and Exposition, Detroit, Mich., Feb. 25-Mar. 1, 1991. This paper presents the results of a test program that used a dual oxygen sensor coupled with a simulated On-Board Diagnostic Algorithm to attempt detection of seriously deteriorated catalytic converters on a test vehicle operated over the Federal Test Procedure (FTP). Previous work is reviewed which relates to determining the methodologies to detect catalyst failure by observing the effects of three-way catalyst (TWC) conversion activity on a response pattern generated between an oxygen sensor place upstream and oxygen sensor place downstream of the catalyst. One analytical method is referred to which quantified the fluctuation and sensor response by calculating the area underneath the sensor curves for a discrete time period, then taking the difference in sensor wave form area values. This integrated area difference method has been reported in the above reference to Clemmens. The background further references a study in 1980 by A. H. Meitzler, “Application of Exhaust-Gas-Oxygen Sensors to the Study of Storage Effects in Automotive Three-Way Catalyst”, SAE Technical Series No. 800019 which used the response delay of a downstream oxygen sensor to an instantaneous air/fuel shift as an indicator of a catalyst oxygen storage mechanism. Koupal studied the adaption of the integrated area difference algorithm developed by Clemmens to on-vehicle test results. The results were that the dual oxygen sensor method using integrated area difference analysis, was able to distinguish between good and bad catalyst under controlled conditions.

[0013] Presently, the method disclosed in this SAE Technical Paper Series 910561 is a method of using dual oxygen sensors for on-board diagnostic system measurement. However, it is extremely difficult to obtain consistent in-field measurements due to inconsistencies and, often, insufficient air to fuel swings.

[0014] In thesis, “An Engine Test to Measure the Oxygen Storage Capacity of a Catalyst (provide source), the oxygen storage capacity of a catalyst is assessed to determine its efficacy based on measurements of upstream and downstream air to fuel ratio.

[0015] One method to determine whether the catalyst is performing is to measure the switch ratio of the downstream versus the upstream EGO sensors to determine the oxygen storage capacity of a catalytic converter. Based on this measurement the performance can be assessed (J. W. Koupal, M. A. Sabourin, W. B. Clemmens, “Detection of Catalyst Failure On-Vehicle Using the Dual Oxygen Sensor Method”, SAE 910561, 1991). Currently, this is the most common method of using dual oxygen sensors for on-board diagnostic system measurements. However, it is extremely difficult to obtain consistent in-field measurements due to inconsistent and often insufficient air to fuel swings.

[0016] Another method of using dual oxygen sensors includes biasing the engine air to fuel ratio either rich or lean, and then determining the time it takes for the downstream HEGO sensor to sensor switch in the engine operating condition, vis-a-vis the upstream HEGO sensor. While this is a more reliable method of determining the oxygen storage capacity of the catalytic converter, it is intrusive. The measurement procedure involves changing the operation condition of the vehicle.

[0017] There are two inherent problems relating to the use of the oxygen sensors for on-board diagnostic measurements. One, is that there is no strong relationship between the oxygen storage in the catalytic converter and the hydrocarbon conversion performance of the catalytic converter. Secondly, it is difficult to determine a mode of operation of the vehicle under which reliable, meaningful comparisons can be made between the two sensors. It is therefore a continuing goal to devise an algorithm in combination with a sensor strategy to diagnose working of the catalytic converter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0018] An on-board catalyst diagnostic for monitoring the conversion efficiencies by measuring oxygen storage capacity (OSC) of the converter.

[0019] Using the OSC as a signature to monitor the catalyst conversion efficiency by directly monitoring the OSC of the catalyst, not the emissions. The accuracy of the monitoring system is improved by having a good mathematical model for OSC.

[0020] The system uses actual emission data stored and sampled in appropriate histograms and determines the vehicle's potential for meeting regulatory emission standards by comparing measurements to a threshold value. The emission data is determined from the development process.

[0021] This is achieved in an on-board vehicular catalytic converter monitoring system (method and/or apparatus) for monitoring the Oxygen Storage Capacity of the catalyst converter's and generating signals during vehicle operation.

[0022] The vehicle's electronic control module simultaneously processes the signals to determine when and if the signals have exceeded regulatory standards.

[0023] Accordingly, the system provides a vehicle on-board emissions monitoring system which utilizes actual emission data produced by the specific monitored vehicle (threshold value) to construct relatively large data bases coinciding with government mandated FTPs which can be statistically validated to insure accurate and reliable compliance with vehicular emission standards.

[0024] The system provides an accurate vehicular on-board automotive emission monitoring system which produces consistent, reliable readings indicative of the gaseous pollutants actually emitted by the vehicle.

[0025] The system also provides an automotive on-board emission monitoring system which can be varied to determine compliance with any emission test protocol and which can automatically adjust for aging of the catalytic converter.

[0026] The system provides an on-board vehicular emission monitoring system which is simple and inexpensive.

[0027] In an embodiment, the system provides a vehicular emission monitoring system which utilizes the vehicle's existing ECM to monitor the emissions produced by the vehicle.

[0028] Still another object of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is to provide an on-board vehicular emission monitoring system which is predictive of an expected failure of the vehicle's emission system so that the vehicle can be scheduled for preventive maintenance.

[0029] Still another object of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is to provide an on-board emission diagnostics system which after determining that a failure of the emissions system by a relatively fast processing routine then proceeds to execute further processing routine to pinpoint the components in the system which caused the failure.

[0030] These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the Detailed Description of the Invention set forth below taken in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] Other objects, features, advantages and details of the present invention appear, by way of example only, in the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, the detailed description referring to the drawings in which:

[0032]FIG. 1 is a general diagrammatic illustration of the vehicular components of an emission system;

[0033]FIG. 2 is a general diagrammatic illustration of portions of a vehicle emission system;

[0034]FIG. 3 is a graph illustrating pre and post O2 signals for OSC time definition;

[0035]FIG. 4 is a graph illustrating a separation analysis of variously aged converters;

[0036] FIGS. 5A-5C illustrate a process flow chart of the monitoring system of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0037]FIG. 6 is a graph illustrating a monitoring test; and

[0038]FIG. 7 is a graph illustrating NOx emissions and OSC.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0039] The invention is particularly relevant to an emissions monitoring system in compliance with government regulatory emissions standards such as OBD II mandated by the State of California. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention may have broader applications and could be used for monitoring, evaluating and/or predicting the functional operation of any number of vehicle components whether or not related to the vehicle's emissions.

[0040] The present invention is related to United States patents Nos. 5,941,918, 5,431,042, 5,426,934, 5,490,064, 5,237,818 and 5,505,837 the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference thereto.

[0041] Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for the purpose of illustrating a preferred embodiment invention only and not for the purpose of limiting same, there is generally shown in diagrammatic form in FIG. 1 the principal components of a vehicular emission control system 10. The vehicle has an internal combustion engine 12 which discharges gaseous pollutants or emissions through an exhaust system 14. Internal combustion engine 12 is conventionally under the control of an electronic control module or ECM 15 (controller or computer).

[0042] Exhaust system 14 is conventional and includes an exhaust header 17, a three-way catalyst or TWC 18 positioned downstream of exhaust header 17, a muffler 19 downstream of TWC 18 and a tailpipe 20 downstream of muffler 19 which is open to atmosphere for discharging or emitting the emissions or gaseous pollutants produced by internal combustion engine 12.

[0043] ECM 15 is conventional and includes well known elements such as a central processing unit or CPU 22, RAM (Random Access Memory) 23, ROM (Read Only Memory) 24, and NVRAM (Non Volatile Random Access Memory) 25. Also included is a look-up table 27 separate and apart from ROM 24 (or alternatively included as a component of ROM 24). Also shown is a conventional input/output unit (I/O) unit 28 for receiving and transmitting appropriate instructions from and to ECM 15. Insofar as the present invention is concerned, I/O unit 28 will transmit appropriate instructions to activate a display failure light 30 situated in the vehicle. I/O unit 28 may also interface with an external analyzer 32 which could be optionally supplied if analog circuitry were optionally provided to process the emission signals.

[0044] Communication between ECM 15 and actuation units on the vehicle including sensors associated therewith is typically carried out via conventional two-way communication links which may be, for example, bi-directional serial data links in 8-bit, 16-bit or 24-bit formats. ECM 15 operates in a well established known manner to control the engine and process engine control and diagnostic routines, such as stored by step by step instructions in ROM 24. Essentially, engine operating parameters are read into ECM as input signals which are then processed into output signals or control signals outputted from ECM to actuation units on the vehicle controlling the vehicular operation, specifically, the operation of internal combustion engine 12. Insofar as the present invention is concerned, input sensor signals are read into ECM, processed by RAM 23 and NVRAM 25 under the control of CPU 22 from algorithm routines stored in ROM 24. Processed data is stored in memory (multi-channel analyzers within ROM 24 and data in LUT 27) which is then accessed by RAM 23 and NVRAM 25 through algorithms stored in ROM under the control of CPU 22 to generate signals outputted by I/O unit 28 to display 30.

[0045] Several sensors normally applied to the vehicle with their sensor signals inputted to ECM 15 are shown in FIG. 1. Typical sensors which generate operative signals indicative of an operating condition of the vehicle include a vehicle speed sensor generating vehicle speed signals on line 34, an RPM sensor generating signals on line 36 indicative of the RPMs of engine 12, an EGO sensor generating signals on line 38 indicative of the oxygen present in the exhaust gas upstream of TWC 18 for controlling the exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system on the vehicle, and an EGO sensor generating signals on line 40 indicative of the oxygen present in the exhaust gas down stream of TWC 18 and a “miscellaneous” sensor generating signals on line 41 indicative of any other sensor signals used to control ignition timing, fuel injection, etc. of engine 12.

[0046] California air resources board released new OBD II regulations on May 26, 1999 (CARB mail-out 99-12) greatly tightening vehicle pipeline emissions. The new emission standards are referred to as LEVII standards. The regulations require OBDII systems monitor commission-related components on-line based on the LEVII standards, which creates great challenges to the automotive industry.

[0047] In accordance with these requirements a catalyst system shall be considered malfunctioning when its conversion capability decreases to the point that hydrocarbon (HC) or oxides of nitrogen (NOx) emissions exceed 1.75 times the applicable FTP emission standards. Since the LEV II standards are much more stringent than the current ULEV standards in terms of the NOx emissions (e.g., the Anno exhibition standards for MDV trucks is reduced by the factor of 12 from ULEV to LEVII), a catalyst monitor with higher accuracy and robustness must be developed to comply with the new requirements.

[0048] The catalytic converter contains reactive precious metals to convert the unburned hydrocarbon (HC), carbon monoxide (CO) and oxides of nitrogen (NOx) which result from the combustion of gasoline. When the catalyst is working properly, the unburned hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide components are oxidized by combining with oxygen. This oxidation forms water vapor and carbon dioxide (CO2). The oxides of nitrogen are reduced to nitrogen and oxygen, greatly reducing their negative environmental effects. The on-board catalyst diagnostic monitors the conversion efficiencies by measuring the oxygen storage capacity (OSC) of the converter. The measurement (OSC) indicates the degree of health of the converter. Under the same engine running conditions, the greater the OSC measurement, the healthier the converter.

[0049] A strategy was designed to monitor the HC carbon emissions. A mathematical model was developed for OSC:

OSC=e ^(a*air) ^(_(—)) ^(flow+b*catalyst) ^(_(—)) ^(temperature+d)  (1)

[0050] Where a, b, and d are constant calibration parameters for a given engine application. The modeled OSC is then compared to the real OSC to determine the health of the converter. From the analysis of the engine combustion process and the emission treatment system, it was found that the OSC was affected by other factors, such as fuel control characteristics, air/fuel ratio, etc. The above mathematical model does not accommodate for these additional factors. Therefore, the accuracy of this mathematical model is limited and unable to meet the more stringent LEVII requirements.

[0051] Accordingly, a new mathematical model was developed:

OSC=e ^(a*air) ^(_(—)) ^(flow+b*catalyst) ^(_(—)) ^(temperature+c*averaged) ^(_(—)) ^(short) ^(_(—)) ^(term) ^(_(—)) ^(integrator+d)  (2)

[0052] Comparing with model (1) above c is an added constant calibration parameters for a given engine application, averaged_short_term_integrator is the average value of fuel control short term integrator prior to the beginning of the intrusive diagnostic. The monitoring system learns this value prior to the diagnostic. During the diagnostic, the short-term integrator for the fuel control is frozen to the average_short_term_integrator value. Model (2) with the added in term significantly improves the accuracy of the diagnostic.

[0053] The OSC time varies with catalyst temperature, engine air flow, fuel control characteristics, A/F ratio and other unknown factors, such as gasoline ingredients. That is, there exists a mathematical model to describe the correlation:

[0054] OSC=f(engine air flow, catalyst temperature, fuel control characteristics, A/F ratio)

[0055] Where the unknown disturbance effects are ignored. From test to test, the engine running conditions change dramatically. The OSC measurement must be normalized and compared against a pre-defined threshold to decide the state of health of the catalyst. Therefore, the development of an accurate model (2) is the most critical issue in the catalyst NOx monitor algorithm.

[0056] In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, this uncertainty is over common by forcing the catalyst into a stable saturated state before measurement of the OSC time. The OSC time is measured by a two-part sampling.

Statistical Modeling

[0057] A statistical modeling analysis approach was used for the development of the model. The OSC time is an output of the model and all other factors are the possible inputs (engine air flow, catalyst temperature, short term integrator, cooling temperature, etc.) to the model. All the possible inputs were put into the model and the p-values (a type of statistical indictor) corresponding to each input were calculated. If the p-value is small, this implies the corresponding input term is significant and should be kept in the model. Otherwise, the term should be taken out of the model. Model (2) was the final model, which will be implemented in the calibration process.

[0058] Referring now to FIG. 2, a pre-O2 sensor 50 is positioned upstream from the catalytic converter. A post O2 sensor 50 is positioned downstream from the catalytic converter. The diagnostic system uses a duel-oxygen sensor (FIG. 2) strategy to monitor the catalytic converter performance. The diagnostic system is run under I/O conditions that satisfy the various enabling criteria, the following states (FIG. 3) are observed:

Stabilization Time

[0059] After the vehicle has been started and enters an idle state, the whole system takes a few seconds (e.g. 4 seconds) to stabilize and finish the transition from driving to idling.

System Learning Time

[0060] This is a closed-loop fuel control state where fuel control data, idle stability data, and catalyst operating state data is captured prior to enabling the first of the two air/fuel transitions. At the end of this stage, the proportional fuel control should be set to zero, the long-term memory should be frozen at where it is, and the short term integrator should be frozen to the average value during the stage. The fuel control system enters an open-loop mode afterwards until the whole diagnostic is finished or aborted.

Testing With the First Air/fuel Ratio Transition

[0061] The first of the two air/fuel transitions is performed by changing the commanded air/fuel ratio from the stoichiometric point to a lean value. In an exemplary embodiment, the percentage air/fuel ratio change is a calibration constant (e.g. 6% lean). This is done by performing an open loop fuel control and commanding a lean air to fuel ratio and then monitoring the post_O2 sensor voltage until it falls below a calibrated both value (e.g. 80 mV) indicating a lean state measurement.

[0062] The system continues to command a lean air to fuel ratio (e.g. 6%) for a calibratable duration of time (e.g. 3 seconds) to saturate the catalytic converter and drive it to a fixed saturation state before proceeding to the second part of the test.

Testing With the Second Air/fuel Ratio Transition

[0063] The second of the two air/fuel transitions is performed by changing the commanded air/fuel ratio to the direction opposite to the previous stage. The OSC measurement is made during this transition. The OSC is the measured elapsed time between the transition of pre-O2 sensor to the second air/fuel state and the transition of the post O2 sensor to the second air/fuel state.

[0064] In the second part of the test a rich air to fuel ratio (e.g. 10%) is commanded in open loop and the time delay between the pre_O2 switch and post_O2 switch is measured. The measured time delay is called the OSC time.

End of Test

[0065] A return to closed-loop fuel control at the end of the test.

[0066] In order to determine whether the catalytic converter is good or bad, a threshold reference converter has to be defined. The OSC time of the threshold converter varies with the operating condition when the diagnostic runs. Accordingly, a mathematical model must be developed based upon the threshold converter to normalize the OSC measurement.

[0067] In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the OSC measurement is primarily affected by engine air flow, catalyst temperature, average short-term integrator value. Accordingly using a statistical modeling approach, the following model was invented:

OSC=e ^(a*air) ^(_(—)) ^(flow+b*catalyst) ^(_(—)) ^(temperature+c*averaged) ^(_(—)) ^(short) ^(_(—)) ^(term) ^(_(—)) ^(integrator+d)  (2)

[0068] In model (2), the coefficients a, b, c and d must be calibrated and accustomed to each application. Accordingly, model (2) is rewritten as follows:

In(OSC)=a*air_flow+b*catalyst_temperature+c*averaged_short_term_integrator+d  (3)

[0069] The test is then performed many times (e.g. 100 times) and testing a (the OSC, air_flow, catalyst_temperature, and average_short_term_integrator) is collected. Then the coefficients can be calculated by statistical linear regression modeling method. Model (2) can also be rewritten as follows:

OSC=e ^(a*air) ^(_(—)) ^(flow+b*catalyst) ^(_(—)) ^(temperature+d) _(*e) ^(c*averaged) ^(_(—)) ^(short) ^(_(—)) ^(term) ^(_(—)) ^(integrator)

[0070] Where the first part is implemented as two-dimensional table and the second part is implemented as one dimensional table.

[0071] Referring now to FIG. 4, an application of an embodiment of the present invention was developed and validated using a premium V-6 vehicle with LX 3.5 L. engine and automatic transmission. For catalytic converters with different aging mileage were procured (200K miles, 400K miles, RAT_A 800K miles and RAT_H 800K miles). The RAT_A 800K converter is defined as the threshold converter based on CARB LEVII regulations. With the threshold converter, more than 100 tests were conducted. The mathematical model (2) was calibrated and its R² value is 89%. R² value is a statistical indicator. R² value=100% implies that the model fits with all of the data exactly and the model is perfect.

[0072] Using the earlier model (1) R² value was only 50%. Accordingly, the present invention increases monitoring accuracy significantly.

[0073] Tests were also performed on the other three converters (more than 100 times on each one). The testing data was normalized using the calibrated model and the distributions are shown in FIG. 4. As illustrated, the separation among the converters, especially, between the good ones (400K and 200K) and the bad ones (two 800K) is clear.

[0074] Referring now to FIGS. 5A-5C, there is illustrated a process flow diagram 100 of the present invention in its simplest form. The vehicle is started and after a wait of an appropriate time period to insure that adverse readings attributed to a cold start of the engine are not taken, the diagnostic process is begun at block 102. The diagnostic process is run during idle.

[0075] Engine stabilization occurs during block 104 and block 106 checks the enable conditions. After the engine starts idling the diagnostic waits a few seconds to allow the engine to stabilize. In the meantime the diagnostic algorithm checks all relating enabling conditions.

[0076] A decision node 110 determines whether the enable conditions have been met. If not, block 112 stops the process. If on the other hand, the conditions are met block 114 performs purge canister intrusive control.

[0077] Then the algorithm estimates the stoichiometric point of the fuel control. The algorithm then takes over the fuel control authority and performs open loop control.

[0078] Block 116 conducts fuel system adaptive learning. Block 1 18 forces the fuel control from a closed loop to an open loop control and block 120 commands the air to fuel ratio offset to lean. Block 122 modifies spark and/or idle air control to maintain the engine RPM performance for diagnostic.

[0079] This is used to determine the OSC time. It first forces the system to go lean (e.g. 6%) and wait for three seconds (adjustable) to saturate the converter, it then forces the system to go rich (e.g. 10%) and measures the time delay between the pre_O2 switch and post O2 switch. Of course, and as applications may require, the aforementioned air to fuel ratios may vary. This time delay is referred to as the OSC time. After the measurement is processed, the diagnostic algorithm releases its control authority and the system reverts back to the normal closed loop mode. The OSC time is then used to monitor the conversion efficiencies of the vehicle catalytic converter.

[0080] A decision node 124 determines whether the sensor reading of post O2 sensor 52 is less than a calibratible level. If not, step 126 instructs the system to wait. Alternatively, if the reading of post O2 sensor 52 is less than the calibratible level block 128 begins a saturation time counter. A decision node 130 determines whether the saturation time is greater than or equal to a calibratible limit. If not, a step 132 instructs the system to wait. If the saturation time is greater than or equal to the limit a step 134 commands the air to fuel ratio offset to the opposite of block 120 (e.g. rich).

[0081] Block 136 controls spark and or air control to maintain engine RPM performance. Block 138 performs the oxygen storage capacity (OSC) measurement. Block 140 calculates the OSC time by a mathematical model namely, model 2 is used here, as described above.

[0082] Block 142 sets index_input=1-OSC_measurement/calculated OSC.

[0083] Block 144 performs the following functions where EWMA_constant is a calibration constant:

index_current_output=EWMA_constant*indexd_previous_output+(1-EWMA_constant)*index_input

[0084] A decision node 146 determines whether index_current_(—)<0. If yes, block 148 determines that the catalyst converter is good or alternatively block 150 determines that the catalyst converter is bad.

[0085] This is based on an observed correlation between catalyst conversion efficiency and OSC.

[0086] In addition, the following correlation has also been found:

OSC time model=e ^(a*air) ^(_(—)) ^(flow+b*catalyst) ^(_(—)) ^(temperature+c*STI+d)

[0087] Where STI denotes the fuel control integrator value which is an averaged value during the system learning time period (FIG. 3), and a, b, c, d are calibration constants to match the data.

[0088] The above model can be rewritten as follows:

In (OSC_time_model)=a*air_flow+b*catalyst_temperature+c*STI+d

[0089] The above model will be calibrated for a pre-defined OBDII threshold failing catalytic converter and coded into the engine diagnostic software. After one test run, a measurement OSC time will be obtained. Then the natural logarithm, in (OSC_Time), of the OSC time can be calculated using lookup tables stored in the diagnostic software.

[0090] In the meantime, the engine airflow, the catalyst temperature, and the STI value will be available. Then ln(OSC_Time_Model) can also be calculated which would be the value under the given condition if the catalyst converter is a failing converter.

OSC_Index=ln(OSC_Time)-ln(OSC_Time_Model)

[0091] which can be rewritten as

OSC_Index=ln(OSC_Time/OSC_Time_Model)

[0092] The OSC index calculation will be sent over to an EWMA (Exponential Weighted Moving Average) filter. Pass or fail results for the catalyst are based on the output of the EWMA filter and additional logic.

[0093] While the invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims. 

1. A method for measuring the oxygen storage capacity of a catalytic converter, comprising: forcing said catalytic converter into a stable saturated state, said stable saturated state corresponding to a lean air to fuel ratio; changing said saturated state to a rich air to fuel ratio; measuring the time delay between a first oxygen sensor and a second oxygen sensor, said first oxygen sensor being positioned at the inlet of said catalytic converter and said second oxygen sensor being positioned at an outlet of said catalytic converter; normalizing the oxygen storage capacity to define a normalized oxygen storage capacity value; and comparing said normalized oxygen storage capacity value to a threshold value.
 2. The method as in claim 1, wherein said catalytic converter is diagnosed by a control algorithm of an engine control module of a vehicle.
 3. A catalytic converter monitor apparatus, comprising: a first oxygen sensor mounted in a vehicle exhaust system upstream of a catalytic converter catalyst; a second oxygen sensor mounted in the vehicle exhaust system downstream of at least a portion of the catalytic converter catalyst; an electronic controller coupled to said first and second oxygen sensors and to a vehicle engine, said vehicle engine provides an input signal indicative of an engine operating condition to the electronic controller, wherein the electronic controller comprises: a control algorithm, said control algorithm determining an oxygen storage capacity of said catalytic converter.
 4. A catalytic converter monitor apparatus as in claim 3, wherein said electronic controller also comprises: an adaptive table modifier, for updating a table as said catalytic converter ages. 